Home prices nationwide increased modestly in December: CoreLogic reported a 0.03% rise and a 3.4% annual increase, whileICE noted a 0.2% rise and the same 3.4% yearly growth.
CoreLogic expects a 0.2% decline in January and 4.1% appreciation for the year ahead, up from previous forecasts of 3.8% and2.4%. This upward revision is noteworthy given CoreLogic’s typically conservative estimates.
What’s the bottom line?
Recent home price index data shows that homeownership remains a strong way for Americans to buildwealth. For instance, a $600,000 home appreciating by 4% in a year would yield a $24,000 gain, reflecting a solid investmentreturn.